Quite frankly, you usually know you have a UTI because you can’t stop urinating. Trips to the bathroom become overwhelming and painful. Plus, urine may appear dark or cloudy and smell funny. You might even experience pelvic pain -- which is definitely not fun.
Unfortunately, urinary tract infections are quite common. According to MedicineNet, UTIs are the reason for more than 7 million hospital and doctor visits yearly. And they affect more adults than children.
Women Have Elevated Risks of UTI
They’re more common in women than men. Experts say that 60 percent of women will get a UTI at some point in life. And many women get them many times. According to the Mayo Clinic, there are many reasons why women are more susceptible. For starters, the female anatomy increases the risk of UTI. Women have shorter urethras than men, so bacteria doesn’t have as far to travel to invade the bladder.
Further, sex makes women prone to urinary tract infections. That’s because sex can introduce new bacteria into the body -- or transfer bacteria from the anus. Birth control also can play a part. Research shows that women who use diaphragms potentially could have a higher risk of UTI, and spermicide can increase this risk.
Menopause can play a part in the risk of UTI. Estrogen loss associated with menopause can change the urinary tract, which in turn can increase the risk of UTI.